Precision edge contrast and orientation estimation

The contrast and orientation estimation accuracy of several edge operators that have been proposed in the literature is examined both for the noiseless case and in the presence of additive Gaussian noise. The test image is an ideal step edge that has been sampled with a square-aperture grid. The effects of subpixel translations and rotations of the edge on the performance of the operators are studied. It is shown that the effect of subpixel translations of an edge can generate more error than moderate noise levels. Methods with improved results are presented for Sobel angle estimates and the Nevatia-Babu operator, and theoretical noise performance evaluations are also provided. An edge operator based on two-dimensional spatial moments is presented. All methods are compared according to worst-case and RMS error in an ideal noiseless situation and RMS error under various noise levels     

Phenomena-based thermal-hydraulic modeling requirements for systems analysis of a Modular High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor

The Modular High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor (MHTGR) is a candidate design for new production and commercial power nuclear reactors. The MHTGR has inherent safety features including: (1) passive shutdown and decay heat removal, (2) reduced requirements for operator intervention, thereby reducing sensitivity to operator error, and (3) long time intervals for corrective action. In support of the Department of Energy's (DOE) initial development of the design, the authors have completed an evaluation of the thermal-hydraulic phenomena that will dominate the plant response during representative normal, off-normal and accident conditions. Phenomena having significance to the plant behavior have been identified, and ranked with respect to their relative importance in satisfying operational, investment and/or safety criteria. The resulting information provides the basis for evaluating the applicability of existing computer codes, and defines the requirements for the development of new codes, for thermal-hydraulic systems analysis. The phenomena-based requirements also support the quality assurance related verification and validation of these codes. This paper briefly describes the methodology employed, and gives illustrative examples of the resulting requirements. References are cited for reports that document the full body of requirements and provide additional information for the methodology.     

多内核、多线程的SoC引致调试困难

有经验的开发人员都知道,要保证嵌入式产品的成功实现、调试和维护,好的工具支持是非常关键的.SoC(系统芯片)设计带来了一系列新的问题,使好的工具支持变得更加关键.部分问题可以归因于SoC设计使用的部件,其可访问性和可视性本来就有所下降;其它原因则可归因于在硬件和软件方面复杂性的增加.     

Spontaneous platelet activation and aggregation during obstructive sleep apnea and its response to therapy with nasal continuous positive airway pressure. A preliminary investigation

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine whether alterations of platelet reactivity occur during obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and, if so, whether therapy with nasal-continuous positive airway pressure (N-CPAP) alters this reactivity. DESIGN: Patients with suspected moderate to severe OSA had blood drawn for spontaneous platelet aggregation (sAGG) and activation (sACT) measurements at hourly intervals during diagnostic polysomnography (PSG) and, in those with confirmed OSA, on a separate night during which N-CPAP was applied. SETTING: Tertiary care center sleep laboratory. PATIENTS: Six patients with OSA had matched blood samples drawn on both diagnostic and N-CPAP treatment nights. Five patients without confirmed OSA served as controls. INTERVENTIONS: N-CPAP was applied to those patients with OSA and pressures adjusted with goals of eliminating apneas; N-CPAP was then maintained through the night. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: sACT and sAGG were measured using flow cytometric determination of P-selectin expression using a monoclonal antibody. Platelet aggregation was assessed by measuring the proportion of platelets larger than resting platelets by light scatter techniques. Mean values for sACT and sAGG were higher on the diagnostic night compared with treatment night (p = 0.001 and p = 0.003, analysis of variance, respectively). The mean baseline supine sACT compared with completion supine sACT for both diagnostic and N-CPAP nights also revealed significant differences (mean = 16.6 +/- 3.5% vs 36.9 +/- 7.5%, p = 0.04; and 11.9 +/- 3% vs 39.5 +/- 9.1%, p = 0.04). Platelet activation during sleep in five subjects without OSA resembles that found in patients with OSA during N-CPAP. CONCLUSIONS: Increased platelet sACT and sAGG occur during sleep in patients with OSA. This effect is greatly reduced by N-CPAP.     

Review of Can Love Last? The Fate of Romance Over Time.

Review of book: Stephen Mitchell. Can Love Last? The Fate of Romance Over Time. New York: Norton, 2002, 223 pp. Reviewed by Timothy J. Zeddies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

When laws and ethics collide: What should psychologists do?

At times the laws under which psychologists function may appear to contradict generally recognized ethical values and/or good clinical care. When these circumstances arise, psychologists must determine if a conflict really exists and, if so, seek solutions that reconcile respect for the law with their ethical values. At times, psychologists may decide to follow the law despite their ethical concerns. At other times, they may determine that a conscientious objection is warranted. The authors recommend options to consider when these situations arise and offer a decision-making process. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Pseudoexstrophy

Pseudoexstrophy is a rare, mild exstrophy variant which involves the major musculoskeletal defects of the exstrophy complex without any associated defect in the urinary system. A case is reported presenting at birth as an umbilical positional anomaly. Differential diagnosis and management are reviewed.     

Workflow technology-based monitoring and control for business process and project management

In this paper the application of workflow technology to monitor, control and coordinate business processes and projects is proposed. The conceptual characteristics of processes and projects as well as their management needs in the functions of planning, execution, monitoring and control are compared. The general design of the proposed system is then developed, with an application example. The proposed monitoring and control system provides proactive tracking of the flow of work and information, and of the utilization and commitment of resources. The design supports hierarchical management of the project and/or business process, allowing concerned persons to visualize and to utilize it in different levels of abstraction, as necessary. The application of workflow technology also provides additional benefits in facilitating communication, documentation and re-utilization.     

Research in object-oriented manufacturing simulations:an assessment of the state of the art

Object-oriented programming (OOP) has been revolutionizing software development and maintenance. When applied to simulation of manufacturing systems, OOP also provides an opportunity for developing new ways of thinking and modeling. In this paper, we identify existing large-scale, persistent OOP-based research efforts focusing on manufacturing system simulation, and present an integrating framework for discussing the associated modeling abstractions, implementation strategies, common themes, and distinctive features. The goal is to identify the fundamental research and application issues, assess the current state of the art, and identify key research needs.     

Effects of Plasmodium berghei infection on arteether metabolism and disposition

Arteether (AE) is primarily deethylated to dihydroqinghaosu (DQHS) in rats and humans. Conversion of AE to DQHS was impaired in microsomes from rats infected with Plasmodium berghei. The Km for AE was 175.1 +/- 49.1 and 124.4 +/- 115.1 mumol/l, and Vmax was 2.24 +/- 0.45 and 1.22 +/- 0.67 nmol AE formed/mg protein/min in control and infected microsomes (p < 0.05), respectively. Calculated intrinsic clearance (CLint = initial Vmax/Km) for AE was only 4% lower in infected microsomes. Apparent pharmacokinetic parameter estimates for AE using the isolated perfused rat liver demonstrated no differences (p > 0.05) in volume of distribution, clearance, and half-life between normal and infected animals. Malaria infection resulted in decreased biliary excretion of free AE and DQHS. The majority of AE is eliminated via biliary excretion of conjugated DQHS, which is approximately 500-fold higher than free DQHS and 75-fold higher than free AE on a molar basis.